Publisher's Summary

Known to generations of Americans for his stirring call to arms, “Give me liberty or give me death,” Patrick Henry is all but forgotten today as the first of the Founding Fathers to call for independence, the first to call for revolution, and the first to call for a bill of rights. If Washington was the “Sword of the Revolution” and Jefferson, “the Pen”, Patrick Henry more than earned his epithet as “the Trumpet” of the Revolution for rousing Americans to arms in the Revolutionary War. Henry was one of the towering figures of the nation’s formative years and perhaps the greatest orator in American history.

To this day, many Americans misunderstand what Patrick Henry’s cry for “liberty or death” meant to him and to his tens of thousands of devoted followers in Virginia. A prototype of the 18th- and 19th-century American frontiersman, Henry claimed individual liberties as a “natural right” to live free of “the tyranny of rulers”—American, as well as British. Henry believed that individual rights were more secure in small republics than in large republics, which many of the other Founding Fathers hoped to create after the Revolution.

Henry was one of the most important and colorful of our Founding Fathers—a driving force behind three of the most important events in American history: the War of Independence, the enactment of the Bill of Rights, and, tragically, as America’s first important proponent of states’ rights, the Civil War.

Harlow Giles Unger, a former distinguished visiting fellow in American history at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, is a veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian. His books include The Last Founding Father and four other biographies of America’s Founding Fathers, plus many more. He lives in New York.

What the Critics Say

"[An] engaging popular biography…An appealing element here is the wealth of excerpts from Henry’s legendary speeches and revealing letters, seamlessly woven in with Unger’s narrative…. A good choice for general readers seeking a relatively brief account of Patrick Henry’s political activity and contributions to early America." (Library Journal)

"Pat Henry wasn’t a Johnny One-Note patriot. And the author strives to reveal the whole Revolutionary enchilada here—calls to arms, demands for a bill of rights, fights against big government. Why, we could almost call this guy a Tea Party member!" (Ashbury Park Press)

Patrick Henry is one of those characters in history that many people know his name, but know little about him. Many are familiar with the line from his famous speech where he declared "Give me liberty or give me death." Few know much more about him. Harlow Giles Unger has set out to change that. In the past Unger has written about James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. In this book he turns his attention to Patrick Henry. Henry was not like a lot of his Virginia colleagues. He was not born to a wealthy planter. After failing at a few business ventures he finally took up the study of law. Before long he had established himself as a well respected attorney. Henry's strong appeal was his common sense and his love of liberty. He was a radical long before it was popular.

He was married twice. He had six children with his first wife and twelve more with his second. Many in his own time joked that he was the true father of his country. Henry was a man who believed in personal liberty. The belief was so strong that he opposed the ratification of the Constitution. Like many in his age he feared the dangers that a strong national government posed. He particularly feared the lack of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. He was not happy that the Constitution was ratified, but he refused to oppose the new government.

Unger is an entertaining writer. If he has one major flaw it is to take the side of his subject a little too freely. In his biography of Monroe he felt the need to downplay the importance of John Quincy Adams. In his biography of Adams he builds him up as being incredibly important. One glaring example stuck out in this book. When Edmund Randolph and Thomas Jefferson gave their approval of the Constitution, despite serious reservations, Unger implies not only that Henry thought that there was a conspiracy between these men and Washington, but also that such a theory might have credence. It is absurd to imply that George Washington bribed Randolph and Jefferson with cabinet positions. No evidence is given, just a random thought thrown out. The occasional lapse aside Unger is a good writer, if a bit on the enthusiastic. There are so few books on this important founder that it is well worth checking this book out.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Jean

Santa Cruz, CA, United States

23/01/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Engaging easy readable biography"

In reading this book I have learn a great deal of information about the life and work of Patrick Henry. Henry was mentioned in every biography I have read of the time frame, from George Washington to James Madison, Henry was discussed in the book but only in passing. Historians have paid the most attention to the founding fathers that attained the presidency. At the bottom of the bag, nowadays are those founders who were important for a brief period on the national level but whose working career was at the local level. Henry was the first governor of Virginia. People like Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry did not get much attention.

Harlow Giles Unger, an historian and former visiting fellow at Mount Vernon, has written a delightful biography that tries to rectify the prior lack of attention paid to Patrick Henry. The author provides an insightful glimpse into the life and work of one of the most important men who helped bring about the creation of the American republic.

Unger provides an overview of the life of Henry. The book is not a comprehensive biography. The author delves into the key events in Henry’s life explaining how the episodes discussed helped to shape Henry’s work and approach to politics. The book covers Henry’s earliest days as a backwoods lawyer. Unger covers Henry’s friendships and family life (he fathered 18 children) as well as his relationship with George Washington.

What I found most interesting was the discussion of some of Henry’s cases as a lawyer. For example, Henry argues in defense of a group of famer’s who had refused to pay the Church tax to support the established Anglican Church of Virginia colony. Henry’s opposition to what he saw as both a violation of religious liberty and the freedom of the people to be secure against oppressive taxation by distant imperial and colonial governments.

Unger’s book is a fascinating study of one of the most colorful and important public men of the founding era. If you are interested in the formation of this country this is a book to read. William Hughes narrated the book.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Timothy

Oak City, NC, United States

28/03/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"A good overview"

I had very little knowledge of Patrick Henry entering into this listen. As influential as he was initially in the American Revolution, he is often overlooked today. What I liked about this book: the book did a great job of laying out the facts of Henry's life and place in eighteenth century American in an orderly fashion. What I did not like: I did not find the book to be a particularly critical overview. It presented Henry in a glowing light but did little to go deeper in regards to analyzing his place in history.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Bruce

Fort Pierce, FL, United States

19/06/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Understanding"

The early history of our nation has been something I have enjoyed doing via audible. Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Monroe and Madison have all provided a lot I did not already know. But my new hero is Patrick Henry. I wish he had been able to convince others to follow his views on liberty and less government

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

SHHHHH

07/05/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good read on one of the greatest founding fathers."

Lots of info on formal declarations etc. good book, informative. would receive for anyone looking for Henry's early work.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

fourkiddos1359

Joplin, MO

24/06/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Incredible!"

What an amazing life! Seems like he was a man of moral and principal who was able to live up to his own high ideals. I have enjoyed each of the Unger biographies I have listened to, very good story teller. Hughes did a great job with the narration.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

shu

texas

21/04/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good book annoyingly narrated"

What did you love best about Lion of Liberty?

Love? Can we go with "What did you like best ..."? Presented a dimension of Founding Father politics not revealed in typical school history classes. Explains the genuine concerns many reasonable people had about ratification of the Constitution.

What other book might you compare Lion of Liberty to and why?

"James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights" covers much the same subject. "Lion of Liberty" is by no means a comprehensive biography of Patrick Henry, but does a better job with the Ratification issue. "Struggle for the Bill of Rights" tends to flog the subject with too much detail.

How could the performance have been better?

Book was read much too fast. Had to slow it to 85% to reach a comfortable listening pace. The NARrator's TENdency to STAMP on certain SYLlables is a deTESTable and IRriating habit that RUined the performance. Learn to speak in an even tone, William, or give it up! And slow down. Listen to Simon Vance or Stephen Hoye.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Brian

05/03/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good historical data"

This book was okay but seemed to become a bit repetitive, I found myself thinking of other things that I had on my mind and needing to go back and listen to what I missed.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

goodspear

Abilene, Tx USA

01/08/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"A book King George would have been proud of..."

Any additional comments?

A selective and sly composition masquerading as history, though betrayed by it's unsubstantiated bias and modern progressive contempt. A prime example being it's careful excuses for the Stamp Act, while blaming colonial discontent on their own unsophisticated selves, as they cling to their pulpits and militia commanders. Sound familiar? Like all effective lies, they must ride on a current of truth to be accepted by the intellect. I don't recommend making the tiring effort to tease useful truth out of this book while there are so many more honest accounts of the time. While I search for a decent book on Patrick Henry, I whole heartedly recommend "Samuel Adams: A life", which is here on Audible as well.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.